run

Guns, Guns, and BBQ

/ Sloan / Leave a comment

Today was a strange day. We all have the things that we’re ‘into’ right? If you’re reading this blog you’re either related to me, an athlete, or a family friend… but we all have either ME in common or our love for fitness in common. Well today I was taken to a Gun Show. Cue me flexing my massive bicep and pointing with a cheesy grin. No, not that kind, a real, Red *neck I mean blooded American event!

This place was full of big burly men in Carhartts, camouflage and trucker hats! Mountain Dew cans and candy wrappers were on the floor near the vendors, (they have to keep their energy up too) and gun upon guns covered the tables, along with tazers, knives and t-shirts bashing our president or telling hippies to get out. Needless to say, I felt a little uncomfortable.

But we all have our ‘thing,’ right? I mean, I could, and do, talk to you all day about running shoes, training, hydration, getting our sweat on…blahblahblah, and if I did this at the gun show I would be given weird looks and maybe be escorted out by the nice man with American flag suspenders that hold his Budweiser belly in and his mullet that was held back with a sweet bandana.

I didn’t talk about fitness, healthy lifestyles or anything else. I listened while they told me about how it’s my right to bear arms, and how this purple Barretta would go so nicely with the skirt I was wearing. Maybe even a leather holster to match my home made, apple tree earrings… weird conversations go down at this place!

But my point is, we all have our passions and it was cool to be on a completely different playing field this afternoon.

I didn’t buy a gun but I did eat some bomb tasty Bar-B-Que and definitely felt more American for it!

 

 

Inspiration From A Lonely Run

/ Sloan / 7 Comments

For the last two months I have not only been surrounded by runners, but surrounded by world class athletes. Everyday I hear about another race my boss has won, is competing in, or another hundred miler my co-worker is getting paid to run by his sweet sponsors. I run with the ladies group run, errrrr, I run behind them, huffing and puffing trying to keep up while I hear laughter and training plans they have laid out for their spring ULTRA.

I see a picture of another co-worker on a New Balance poster, starring at me intensely, I know that he helped design one of the shoes I’m trying to sell every day. A female co-worker is a student, teaches spin, personal trains and is training for an ultra, and Ironman and applying to grad school, (aka she’s Superwoman) I hear whispers of the ‘girl from Born to Run’ works there…she doesn’t, but she and her dog come and hang out a lot.

Needless to say the list could go on, I am surrounded by amazing people, amazing athletes and should be inspired. But being around all these incredible people is intimidating. I’m no great athlete, I lace my shoes up, I run, I work out, I like it but can by no means make any sort of money off it. It’d be sweet if I could, but it’s not one of my dreams.

I should be inspired. But unfortunately it’s doing the opposite. I’m putting immense pressure on myself to do better. I’d love to run an ultra one day, I have wanted to for awhile, but at this point my looming stress fracture won’t and lack of real motivation won’t allow it. So what do I do?

I was feeling super down about this earlier in the week. This pressure, intimidation and self-reflection is all put on by myself, these people I see daily are AWESOME and it’s my own issues making me feel this way, FYI.

I think it was a combination of things, but feeling inadequate athletically was definitely one of them. Invited to go on a ladies group run, I mentally had decided that I didn’t want to go, I didn’t feel like getting left behind and feeling bad about myself and my running again. I didn’t want to run at all to be honest.

Some how I forced myself outside and did and I realize that being a lone exerciser isn’t such a bad thing. I need to feel good with my run before I share it with others. I learned this week that I can push myself pretty hard at the gym or on the road when I really want to. Remember that was super important for me to get out the door and feel good about my run.

When it all comes down to it, a short run outside in the sunshine is way better than moping around at home ANY DAY! Trying to find inspiration daily can be tough but I know I have it within me somewhere. Thanks for listening to my rant…

 

Have you ever felt really intimidated by your surroundings?

 

What pulled you out of it?